Are you willing to forgo some of the features of motorcycle-specific
riding boots?

Then the combination of the Ridge Outdoors "9000 Ultimate Zipper
boots"
and the Blackhawk "Warrior Wear Light Assault Boots" will cover most -- perhaps
all -- of your riding needs.

They are both rugged, functional, extremely
comfortable, and cost less than most motorcycle boots.

I've been wearing one or the other of these pairs exclusively on my
bike this riding season, and am extremely pleased with both.

The Boots

Before I begin, let me note that both of the boots in this review do
not have motorcycle-specific protective features, such as toe sliders, reinforced toe and heel
cups and ankle protectors.

But as has been mentioned before on webBikeWorld, nearly all of us
make compromises on some aspect of our gear, based on comfort,
convenience, usefulness, and cost.

While I wouldn't take this argument to the extreme
of condoning riding in flip-flops and shorts, I do think these particular
boots are a very good compromise between protection and the other reasons
you'd choose a boot.

In fact, I think that both of these may actually afford more protection than
many motorcycle-specific boots. For instance, I also own a pair of the
Sidi Doha boots (review)
(with the original red stripe!). I'd say that the Blackhawk Light Assault
boots,
being about 1½" taller, offer more ankle protection than the Sidi
Doha boots -- and the Ridge Ultimate boots are taller still.

Ridge Outdoors 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots (L) and Blackhawk Warrior Wear Light Assault Boots
(R).
Still in good shap after several thousand miles of riding.

The
Ridge Outdoors "9000 Ultimate Zipper"
Boots

The first pair of boots in this comparison is the Ridge Outdoors "9000 Ultimate Zipper"
boots.
Ridge Outdoors makes work boots, tactical boots and the 9000 Ultimate
Zipper boots are one of 9 different boots currently in their
"Motorcycle" lineup.

These remind me of the tall black boots I received in basic training, some
40+ years ago, in the Army...except that the 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots are waterproof,
have a zipper as well as laces, are much more comfortable, and I don't have
to spit-shine them every night.

I was looking for some rugged boots that were tall, waterproof, and closed
with a zipper and these -- and very few others -- fit the bill. These are
my boots for multi-day, out-of-town, trips, as well as day trips with "iffy"
weather, i.e., whenever you can't tell whether you'll encounter rain.

With the proper socks, they'll work with temperatures into the 40s;
I've worn these a few times in the upper 30s, but my feet did get cold.
I bought this pair at Americade in 2012, where Ridge Outdoors was one of
the vendors and I have put about 6,000 to 7,000 miles on them since.

Height: I often wear the Firstgear
HT Overpants (review) when doing serious traveling, and I wanted to
make sure that the Ridge Outdoors (the company name) boots were tall enough to remain underneath the bottom
cuffs (especially in the rain), as the cuffs generally creep upward as I
move around. The Ridge Outdoors 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots pass the test, whereas mid-length boots
will not. The 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots are about 10" tall on the outside, and a little
over 8" on the inside.

Water Resistance: I've ridden in a few days' downpours without incident. The
zipper is on the inside, anyway, and there's an extra flap in the lower
area of it.

Zipper: I'm not fond of having to loosen, and then tighten, the lengthy
laces in tall boots; it's nice to have laces to help ensure an optimal fit,
but after that I'd rather not bother. I snugged up the laces when I first
got these boots, tied a double-knot at the top, and haven't messed with
them since. Ridge Outdoors states: "YKK Full Length Zipper w/Velcro Zipper Keeper."

Comfort: These are the most comfortable tall boots I've ever worn.
While not officially part of my requirements, it's what make these boots
a keeper. The 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots have an "Air & Gel Shock Absorbing Heel" and it
works. The footbed, tongue, and sides are all nicely padded, too.

Breathability: not so much. Things don't get clammy in hot weather, but
there's not much air movement. Ridge says they employ a "Dri-Lex Waterproof
Membrane," which I suppose is their version of Gore-Tex. You folks with
Gore-Tex in your boots: that's more of a get-rid-of-the-sweat system
than flow-through breeze ventilation, right? On the flip side, the 9000
Ultimate Zipper boots wouldn't cut it for cold-weather
riding if a breeze was flowing through.

Traction: Very good. Ridge Outdoors says the sole is "1A Carbon Rubber Outsole... Oil, Slip &
Static Resistant". The soles also do a good job at damping vibration.

Miscellanea: there's no pad for shifting -- despite the fact
that these are listed in the Ridge Outdoors "Motorcycle" category (don't
need a toe shift pad for a Harley, eh?)
-- but the toe-box leather is thick enough that I haven't noticed any left-side
wear. Ridge describes the construction of the uppers as "Full Grain Leather
Toe Box/Ripstop Nylon".

Blackhawk is another company that makes tactical gear for police,
military and others. The second pair of boots is the Blackhawk "Men's Blackhawk Light Assault
Boots". Yes, BLACKHAWK! consistently refers to itself in all caps and an
exclamation mark, but I'll just use "Blackhawk" here.

To me, these boots evoke the footgear worn by
SWAT teams, at least as I see them on television (i.e., not being a
celebrity, my house hasn't been "SWATTED" yet). You might also think of
them as akin to typical hiking boots, but on the tall side.

I was looking for a pair of boots for mild-to-hot-weather day tripping: reasonably
protective, comfortable, and with good air flow.

Yep, I've had those low
Sidi Doha boots (review)
for some years now, but the problem with them is that they
are not that comfortable -- stiff footbed and sole -- and they don't breathe
all that well, either. The Blackhawk Light Assault boots make up for that, big time.

I bought these in May 2013 and have since put
more than 2,000 miles on them. While that's a lot fewer miles than I have
on the Ridge Outdoors 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots, remember that the
Blackhawk Light Assault boots are my day-trip boots; I've
actually ridden a lot more days with them.

As its own overview, Blackhawk describes the Light Assault boots as a "Lightweight,
agile tactical boot." As you can see in the photos, much of the leather
outside surface is interrupted by sections of thick mesh.

Height: the Blackhawk Warrior Wear Light Assault boots are about 8" tall on the outside, almost 6½"
on the inside. (The Sidi Doha boots, for comparison, are about 6½" on the
outside and about 5½" on the inside). This makes them tall enough
to afford protection -- most assuredly over-the-ankle, and then some --
while not so tall as to hinder walking in any way.

Air Flow: Excellent. If I stick my feet out from behind the
lowers on my bike, we're talking about feeling an actual breeze.
Blackhawk notes that the boots' "Ventilated, quick-drying properties are ideal for waterborne
operations or hot-weather ops" and, with respect to air flow, it employs
"Lightweight, breathable nylon mesh and abrasion-resistant, quick-drying,
synthetic microfiber upper."

Further, the Blackhawk Light Assault boots use some of the same material as the Ridge
Outdoors 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots; i.e., "Dri-Lex
inner lining wicks away moisture and dries quickly."

Water Resistance: Never been out in them in heavy rain. In
light rain, no inside wetness...but then, I have great weather
protection on the Victory Cross Country Tour (review).
From the Blackhawk web site: "Ventilated, quick-drying properties are
ideal for waterborne operations or hot-weather ops." I guess that means
that if they get soaked, they'll at least dry quickly.

Comfort: Superb. Here's all you need to know: when I return home after
a day trip, I keep these boots on, rather than change into my customary
sneakers, for lazing about the house, finishing up chores, watching the
tube, etc. The Light Assault boots are the only pair of boots that has earned this
distinction with me.

The flexibility of the sole and footbed are both above average. Blackhawk
states that the
"Washable, antimicrobial, custom-molded OrthoLite footbed provides quick-drying,
breathable cushion that is highly abrasion resistant and will not break
down or lose effectiveness over time".

Traction: Very good. Blackhawk states that the Light Assault
boots have a "Vibram 'Trail Run' oil-resistant rubber
outsole". As with the Ridge Outdoors 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots, the soles are also adept at damping
vibration.

Weight and Sizing: A single Light Assault boot weighs about
638 grams (22.5 oz.) in size 11; put another way, despite being significantly taller (and,
did I mention, far more comfortable?), a Light Assault boot weighs about
14 grams (~1/2 oz.) less than a Sidi Doha boot.

As with the Ridge Outdoors 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots, sizing for the Blackhawk Light Assault
boots seems
normal to me.

Miscellanea: The Light Assault boots do not have a
shift pad. Both the toe box and heel, however, are either covered with or
constructed entirely of a pebbly, rubberized, material; in actual use, this
seems to be a very good anti-abrasion strategy.

Finally, the Blackhawk Light Assault boots uses a trick lace fastener, in conjunction
with its speed-lace holders and back pull-on-assist loop. It's a clip, made
of some sort of plastic (which seems strong enough for the job -- no problems),
with a tiny ribbed surface that clamps the laces in place when folded upright.

To tighten the laces, just pull them both up, hold, and flip the clip in
place. There's also a cavity behind the clip-holding material and the front
of the nicely-padded tongue to tuck in the ends of the laces.

To loosen, pull the ends of the laces out from their nesting place in
front of the tongue, swing them forward and down, and the clip will open,
i.e., swing down. At that point, let go of the laces and pull the tongue
itself up and forward; the laces will relax their grip via the speed-lace
system, the tips of the laces will wind up just above the clip's grip area,
and you can pull the boot off. It works well: easy and quick.

If you're looking for rugged, highly comfortable, boots, you could end
your search here. The tall Ridge Outdoors 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots are
a multi-season, all-weather pair of boots and the Blackhawk Warrior Wear Light
Assault boots have you covered for mild- to hot-weather riding.

Both the Ridge Outdoors and the
Blackhawk boots are well-made; they have comprised my riding footgear for about
10,000 miles now, and there are no rips, tears, thread problems, and so
forth. And I haven't polished or even cleaned them, aside from taking a
wet paper towel a few times to wipe off some dirt.

Yes, you have to be willing to live without some of the safety features
often found in motorcycle-specific boots, which is the sort of choice we
make every time we gear up.

Note that these are still rugged boots, not
fashion statements. If you can believe some of what you read on the Internet,
both the Ridge Outdoors 9000 Ultimate Zipper boots and the Blackhawk
Warrior Wear Light Assault boots are being worn (or have
been worn) by U.S. combat soldiers.

The upside is that you'll wind up with some practical and extremely comfortable
boots; boots you can walk around in when you get off your bike. And you'll
probably save a good deal of money, too. The Ridge Outdoors 9000 Ultimate
Zipper boots list for $150.00 but
you can find them for about $120; the Blackhawk Warrior Wear Light Assault
Boots list for $174.95 but
you can find them for about $135.

Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
Not all comments will be published (details).
Comments may be edited for clarity prior to publication.

From "B.C." (March 2015): "I currently ride using
tactical boots. They do not provide much protection against breaking
your ankle. They are good for abrasion protection, and impact in the
areas where they are beefy (sole and toe area).

If you hold most any tactical boot, you can easily bend it sideways,
forward and backward at the ankle joint. It is not rigid there, such as
a snowboard or downhill ski boot.

I just tried on a Dainese TR-Course Out boot today. It is for
motorcycle track racing. It provides much greater resistance sideways,
and limits forward and back motion at your ankle joint. It also had a
lot of hard plastic on the sides and shin, providing impact protection
where the tacticals don't.

At the motorcycle store, I also saw a lot of "motorcycle" low top
shoes that in my opinion are junk. But if you compare tactical boots to
race specific motorcycle boots only, I think there is a significant
difference in ankle protection. I would like to know how common broken
ankles are in street crashes. If they are common, then it may make sense
to wear the high dollar racing type boots."

Editor's Reply: I don't think there is any data kept on
the types of injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents. But many riders
have told me that "real" motorcycle boots are important. Tactical boots
or work boots probably offer more protection than sneakers, but
good-quality motorcycle boots are usually better.

The most protection is provided by full race boots, but they're
mostly too uncomfortable to wear on the street. So, like many other
motorcycle choices, it boils down to your personal risk assessment
equation.

From "K.H." (November 2013): "While I personally
haven’t tried the models mentioned in this review, I as well as many
other MSF RiderCoaches I know teach and/or ride regularly in modern,
lightweight "Tactical Boots".

As many of the RC’s I teach with are LEO’s, they ride with what they
wear on duty. In my case, they’re Bates Enforcer’s (12" tall, side-zip
with laces, leather/rip-stop nylon uppers, non-insulated,
non-waterproof).

Yes, they’re light, comfortable, ventilate well, and are comfortable
to walk around all weekend on 135 degree F pavement on an MSF range.
Additionally, they offer more protection than sneakers,
non-over-the-ankle footwear and most other non-motorcycle-specific
footwear.

Unfortunately, besides the convenient side-zip entry, they don’t
offer most of the protective features present in motorcycle-specific
footwear. The missing toe-shift patch and the toe/upper foot pain
that results, gets old when you’re riding for hours and/or are
constantly on and off the bike. And you don’t want to stub your
toes/upper foot on M/C hard parts…MSF R/C duty should merit combat pay!

Along the same lines, a non-reinforced heel cup can also be a real
"pain" on a motorcycle…don’t ask! As a general rule, I usually eschew
lace-up footwear anywhere near a M/C, as those laces can/do loosen and
can catch on hard or rotating parts, with possibly disastrous results.
In fairness, even my lace-up Sidi NY'ers and Doha's, both of which have
laces and a Velcro-secured strap to retain the laces, still can have
their laces come loose and can be a major PITA.

Finally, while the soft, cushiony, usually oil-resistant soles on
tactical boots do offer excellent traction, they also tend to wear quite
rapidly on asphalt. The lightweight construction, while adequate for LEO
and/or some Military Duty, makes me question how much foot protection
one would actually get in the event of a crash.

Personally, for what they cost, I’d go for something
motorcycle-specific over tactical boots. Just my $0.02 and some food for
thought. Thanks for another fine review. Keep up the good work, wBW!"

From "J.K." (November 2013): "Good article on tactical
boots. I've been using some Magnum
Stealth II 8" lace-up tactical boots since 2008 for about 30,000
miles of mostly road riding, and they are still going strong. I bought
the non-waterproof version, but have subsequently made them
water-resistant by slathering them with Sno-Seal once a year.

I've never been down in them, but I think for on-road riding they
provide enough protection to make a significant difference. They are
comfortable enough to allow me to get off the bike and hike around, even
over rough terrain, even in hot weather.

At the end of a long day on the bike I'm not dying to get my boots
off. In fact, I would say they are amongst the most comfortable footgear
that I own. If my dedicated hiking boots ever wear out I think I might
replace them with a pair of tactical boots.

One thing to add is that the traction on my boots is fantastic, which
I find very useful even while road riding. With other boots on I've
slipped a few times on slick pavement or gravel, while the tactical
boots provide sure footing. Traction is an underrated attribute that
should be noted in any boot review."

From "D.N." (November 2013): "Here is another choice
for a non-motorcycle type boot (Guide
Gear 13" Steel Toe Boot). These are only $78, waterproof and they're
13" tall. No zippers though. It appears they are only available in 2
sizes but I think they have just run out of other sizes temporarily."

From "K.D." (November 2013): "My comments are in response to
"S.C."s comment (below) that "...non-motorcycle specific boots are a significant
risk for riders."

One of the things they observed in studying 212 motorcycle crashes is
that of the 76 riders wearing shoes or joggers, 55.3% of them sustained
foot injuries; of the 57 riders wearing non-motorcycling-specific boots,
26.3% of them sustained foot injuries; of the 17 wearing motorcycle
boots without armour, 35.3% of them sustained foot injuries; of the 62
riders wearing armoured motorcycle boots, 32.3% of them sustained foot
injuries.

The only significant advantage of armoured boots over non-motorcycle
boots is the 4.8% vs. 8.8% rate of cuts/abrasions injuries.

I'm going to wear the best boot that will protect me from the
elements, stay on my foot in a crash, and allow me to be comfortable
when I'm not on the bike. Sometimes that means work/combat style boots;
sometimes that means motorcycle boots."

From "S.C." (November 2013): "I am going to agree with the
letter from "J.H." (below) and say that I believe non-motorcycle specific boots
are a significant risk for riders. I believe you are doing a disservice to your
readers in recommending them.

I was recently on a ride in the Ozark Mountains with a group, and one
of the riders went down into a roadside ditch where his Bonneville
caught fire and was a total loss. His only significant injury was to his
ankle, and he was wearing "work" boots.

In Oklahoma, it is extremely hot in the summers with more than 50
days over 100 degrees being common. For me to say that it is just too
hot and uncomfortable to wear gear is the same rationale you are using
when describing discomfort from walking in motorcycle specific boots. It
just ain’t that bad compared to the alternative!"

Editor's Note: We rarely "recommend" any products; we
report on many products and it's up to our readers to make their own
personal risk/reward calculus.

Are "work" or tactical boots better than flip-flops or sneakers for
motorcycle riding? I'd think yes. Are they as good as dedicated
motorcycle boots? That's more difficult to answer. Just because a boot
is listed as a "motorcycle" boot does not necessarily mean that it has
more or better protection than a work boot or tactical boot.

If your Bonneville-riding friend who unfortunately crashed had been
wearing "motorcycle" boots, would his ankle have been injured more or
less? No one will ever know.

Bottom line? Learn as much as you can from the webBikeWorld reviews
and make an informed purchasing decision based on your personal
criteriae.

From "D.W." (November 2013): "I have a few pairs of Ridge boots
but the one I use on 99% of my rides is a pair of
Ridge Ghost boots. These are the vented
version. Side zipper, etc. I have had them for 4-5 years now. No idea how many
miles on them. I average around 15,000-18,000 a year.

I have a Triumph 800 XC and DR 650 that get most of my mileage. I use
them for almost every kind of riding I do now. The exception is when I
ride my KTM and use the Sidi ADV boot.

I like the vented boot as I do not like hot feet. For some reason, if
my feet get too warm, I get sleepy. Must have been something in my
upbringing. Even crossing small creeks, I stay warm and dry. I can
barely tell any wear on the sole of the boot. I figured I would have
replaced these a few years ago.

Happy to say they are almost as good as new. Good boots."

From "H.S." (November 2013): "Being an Army Veteran, I have
always leaned towards this type of boot, be it for work with a safety toe or
most riding using the same work boots.

I found it interesting how "J.H." commented that during his crash the
steel toe came off. I am not sure my motorcycle- specific boots would
have helped in that given circumstance but have noticed construction
style varies widely on the boots I have owned through the years.

A brand I consider to be my favorite is
Belleville and they make only
military style boots and construction of these has never failed me.

A much lighter-weight Bates safety toe boot was much more flimsy in
construction but weight was also much less. I have some old boots and
think you should see if a method could be made to test boots to see how
they might fare in a crash situation, then put a call out to your
readers to donate used boots for testing.

Editor's Reply: I wish there was a U.S. based
non-profit organization that tested motorcycle clothes for protection
and safety, it sure seems like someone could/should start a business
like that. We have no way of testing products here but I have learned
that there is a lot, lot more to it than meets the eye.

I have also learned over the years that there are two problems with
owner crash reports. First, no two crashes are the same, so what worked
or didn't work in one crash may have no bearing on the next.

Second, there is always the "compared to what?" factor. For example,
a rider reports he/she was wearing boots/helmet/jacket/gloves/etc. that
protected or didn't protect in a crash. But it will never be known if a
different brand or type of product would do the same or better or worse.

About the only thing we as motorcycle riders can go by is the
European CE standards and the various worldwide helmet standards.

From "K.D." (November 2013): "As the Tactical Boots author
has, and those who have made comment have, I've enjoyed a pair of Converse 8"
water-proof, side zip, non-insulated tactical boots over the last riding season
and find them far more comfortable than the Shift riding boots I've owned for
several years.

The point I want to make is that tactical boots are available with a
variety of features that allow purchasers to make decisions for
themselves.

A quick Google search for "military boots" or "tactical boots" will
yield many sites to consider for information, education and procurement.
Within some of those sites you can filter results for features such as
toe construction -- no toe, composite toe, steel toe or aluminum toe
protection. Then within the filtered results you can find information in
the product descriptions as to ankle protection, water proof, side zip,
insulated, non-insulated, steel shank, plastic shank, etc.

Having multiple choices is a great thing and tactical boots that you
can configure to your requirements are a great option."

From "J.D." (October 2013): "I've been riding for two years
now, 27,000 miles, virtually all of those miles in
Corcoran XC1585, 10-inch side-zip jump boots. These are a variation of
Corcoran's original WWII paratrooper boot; the side-zip is incredibly
convenient. All leather, made in USA, same price range as the two boots in the
review.

They're among the most comfortable shoes I own. I not only wear them
for the ride to work, but all day at work, unless I need to swap them
out for the dress shoes I leave at the office. I've been down in them
twice, and I'm still wearing the same pair every day. Yes, they're
scraped and scuffed, but that's it."

From "T.M." (October 2013): "Excellent review! I'm currently
using Oakley's
SF (Special Forces) Assault 2.0 boot for commuting and it's is NICE. I like
that I can stand in these things all day, and not get tired. They are flexible
enough to get good feedback from the foot controls on my CBR while still having
a thick enough sole that I can finally flat-foot the bike."

I had a low-side off three years ago while while wearing steel-toed
work boots which where not motorcycle-specific boots. Perhaps I
experienced a one in a hundred experience, but during my off, I was
pinned under my sport-touring bike as we both slid down pavement. All of
the motorcycle-specific gear that I was wearing protected me doing
exactly what it was designed to do.

However, my left foot was pinned under the bike, top of the foot
facing the pavement and the steel tow was torn off the boot. I ended up
with three broken toes, a broken foot and road rash on the top of my
foot.

I do not know whether any of the pairs of Sidi boots that I have
since bought (all reviewed by webbikeworld) would have performed better,
but I was taught a lesson that good gear is worth the price.

I have no doubt that my Shoei
RF-1000 (review) saved my face, that my Alpinestars gloves saved my
knuckles (my left hand was pinned under the bar ends), and my Tourmaster
riding jacket and pants saved my from a broken elbow and road rash.

Thank you for the great work you guys do. I am one that always checks
webBikeWorld before making a decision regarding my gear."